
Presented this year (2015), the Harry Winston Ocean Chronograph Automatic 36mm is an unusual combination, both a jewellery watch, while also being a chronograph with mechanical movement, with a strap and water resistance approaching diving watch status. At first glance, it presents the features that mark a prestige women’s watch: fairly small, rose gold case, lavish gemsetting, with 33 diamonds for a total of 1.55 carats. The more technical functions comprise the movement visible through a sapphire caseback, and the chronograph function, with the most external ring on the dial divided into 0.2 second intervals for the slender seconds hand. The sporty white rubber strap has a rose gold ardillon buckle set with 10 diamonds. The chronograph pushers are discreet and curvaceous; the way in which the diamonds are set on the bezel almost gives them a function, because they are placed in correspondence with the hour markers, and on the crown guards as part of the Harry Wnston arches motif. The date is asymmetrically positioned in a window at about 4 o’clock.
High jewellery, high tech
The sports nature of this watch is expressed both in its design and its technical characteristics. The case, 36 mm in diameter, 10.7 mm thick, has a water resistance of 100 metres. Its faceted lugs and sloping bezel give it dynamic lines, while the Harry Winston trademark of three rectangular forms (the arches) is at 3 o’clock, and the Ocean collection shuriken running indicator (a three-armed wheel) is at 6 o’clock. The chronograph counters, with an unusual graphic design, are placed at 3 and 9 o’clock, on a silver-toned sunburst dial. Hands and hour indices are coated in SuperLuminova for night-time visibility.
Movement
The watch is powered by the automatic HW3204 calibre with 304 components, which can be seen through the sapphire caseback, where the view is dominated by the rose gold oscillating weight. The movement runs at 21,600 vph (3 Hertz), and it has a non-magnetic silicon balance spring, which improves reliability and accuracy. Movement finish is high, with circular Côtes de Genève, circular graining, rhodium plating and chamfering. Particular attention has been dedicated to the chronograph pushers, soft and smooth in operation.
Versions
This version in rose gold with diamond-set case and bezel is reference OCEACH36RR001.
It is also available in rose gold with bracelet also in rose gold, reference OCEACH36RR002
There are two other versions:
– with white gold case set with 43 brilliant-cut diamonds (1.59 carats total)
– rose gold without gemsetting
– white gold without gemsetting.